Billy Idol agrees to play Seattle man’s birthday party

After three years of trying, a Seattle man has finally convinced Billy Idol to play his birthday party.

In a video message played at a fundraiser Saturday night, the 80’s rocker says he was “honored and touched” by the initial invitation from Michael Henrichson.

In the message, Idol says he was swayed by all the video messages from all over the world urging him to play Henrichson’s birthday. Among those taking part were the Beach Boys, local Olympian Apolo Ohno and Seattle rock star Duff McKagan.

>>Listen: Interview with Michael Henrichson on getting Billy Idol to play his party

Henrichson launched the effort after graduating from college over three years ago, picking Idol because he’s a huge fan of 80’s music.

Henrichson said in an interview last week he was going to pull the plug on the campaign if Idol didn’t agree to play by last Saturday night’s Idol Aid 4 fundraiser, one of many events the 25-year-old staged in conjunction with his efforts. But at the last minute, he got word from Idol’s management team the rocker would play at a party Friday October 26 at Showbox SoDo.

“People of the world have spoken, the dream will become a reality,” Idol says in the message.

The singer of such hits as “White Wedding” and “Dancing With Myself” says the show is sure to be one of the “most memorable birthday party’s the city has ever known.”

Henrichson says he’s so excited, he’s still trying to “wrap his head around it.”

“I lost it,” he says about the phone call from Idol’s manager confirming the Idol appearance. “It’s crazy, it seems like a movie or something,” he says.

Henrichson says even a few days before the call he didn’t think Idol would agree to play. Now he’s planning what he says will be his best birthday ever.

By JOSH KERNS, MyNorthwest.com Reporter